Printing-machine



' (No Model.) I 3-Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. SCOTT.

PRINTING MACHINE. No. 556,478 Patented Mar. 1'7, 1896.

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'3 sheets-She n 2 (No Model.) W. SCOTT. PRINTING MACHINE.

No, 556,478. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.. W. SCOTT.

v PRINTING MACHINE. No. 556,478. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

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ANDREW acnAnAnjn-lmoumo WASHINGTOILD C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VAI TER SCOTT, OF PLAIN FIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PRINTING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 556,478, dated March 17, 1896. Application filed October 20, 1891. Serial No. 409,328. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TALTER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to printing-machines; and it consists of combinations of devices, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims concluding this specification.

One form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which there are shown a plurality of printing couples, an auxiliary printing mechanism consisting of an impressioncylinder about which are arranged a plu rality of form-cylinders, a set of cutting-cylinders, and mechanism to deliver the sheets singly or collected, as may be desired. The printing couples shown consist of rotary plate and impression cylinders with the usual inking devices for the first.

I will not describe the inking devices, since they may be of any usual or suitable construction. V

The accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, show, in

Figure 1, a diagramm atic side view of the entire apparatus; Figs. 2 and 3, enlarged views of the cutting and collecting mechanism, and Fig. 4 a detail of the gearing.

The web 20 may be led in any suitable way to and between the impression-cylinder and form or plate cylinder 11 of the first printing couple, thence between the cylinders 10 12 to and between the impression-cylinder 12 and plate-cylinder 13 of the second printing couple, thence between the cylinders 12 14 to and between the impression-cylinder14 and plate-cylinder 15 of a third printing couple, thence between the cylinders 14: lGtoan'd between the impression-cylinder 16 and formcylinder 17 of a fourth printing couple, thence between the cylinders 16 18 to and between the impression-cylinder 18 and the plate-cylinder 19 of a fifth printing couple. From this last couple the web may lead directly to the cutting-cylinders 26 27, as indicated by the path or line a, or it may lead directly to the impression-cylinder 20 of the auxiliary printing mechanism, (see line 1),) or it may be led around an oiled cylinder or roller to the said cylinder 20. In the instance shown the auxiliary printing mechanism acts to print on the same side of the web as the last of the above-described printing couples; but it is obvious that this arrangement need not be adhered to in practice and that it could print on the opposite side.

The auxiliary printing mechanism shown in the drawings has three form cylinders about it; but this number may be varied without departing from my invention.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the web is printed upon opposite sides alternately as it passes through the aforesaid printing couples and that it is printed upon but one side by the auxiliary mechanism, whether there be one or more impressions given thereby. Thus if there are type-forms on all the type-cylinders in the figure impressions are taken from the cylinders 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 24, of which those from 13 and 17 are on the inside and the rest on the outsidethat is, there are two colors 011 the inside and six on the outside. Of course by omitting one or more of the type-plates these numbers can be varied at will. In case it is desired to have but one color on the inside and less than six on the outside the web can be led in, as at 10 over cylinder 14 and between that cylinder and cylinder 15, its course thereafter being either of those traced above, or the web may be led in at other places, as indicated by the line 10 It has been mentioned above that the sheets may be delivered singly or may be collected and delivered. The adapted to deliver single sheets or to collect and deliver the sheets two by two. The male devices shown are cutting-cylinder 26 is in circumferenceequal to the length of a sheet, while the female cylinder 27 is twice that length in circumference and has two grooves, as 29 and 31, at opposite sides thereof, for co-operation with the cutting-blade 28. This cutting-blade may act to sever the sheets from the web, or it may act to partially sever them therefrom and accelerating tapes or rolls be used to break the sheets from the web. The devices shown sever the sheets from the web.

Assuming that the sheets are to be collected and delivered, I will now describe the forms of mechanism preferably employed to do this. The cylinder 27 is fitted with throw-oifs 30 having their ends lying near the groove 29. A series of pins 59 near the same groove and following the same in the rotation of the cylinder may be employed, if desired, to hold the end of the web down after sheets have been severed therefrom. A similar series of pins 60 may follow the second groove 31 for the same purpose. A roller 48 on an arm of the shaft of the throw-offs 30, coacting with the cam 49 on the stationary framework, operates to work the throw-offs to throw the end of the web on the top of the stripping-arms 37 at slated times. These arms 37 are on the rock-shaft 38, which is journaled in the framework, and are capable of being moved toward and from the cylinder 27 by any suitable means. I show a cam 33 on the shaft 35 of the cylinder 27 and rod 30 pivotally connected at one end to an arm of rock-shaft 3S and forked at the other end to straddle the shaft 35. A roller 34 on the rod connects it with the closed cam Instead of the closed cam and roller an open cam and roller can be used, a suitably-placed spring being used to press the roller against the cam. The cam 33 is so shaped that it keeps the arms 37 away from the cylinder 27 during about half the time and close to it the other half of the time, or thereabout. Below the stripping-arm 37 is placed a cylinder 40 for taking the alternate sheets off the cylinder 27, the cylinder 40 having grippers 41 for this purpose. The sheets taken by cylinder 40 may be delivered independently of those taken off by the strippers 37, or they may be associated with such sheets. In the first case the sheets are taken by the tapes 56 01, a stripper device, as 47, being used to divert the sheets thereto from the cylinder 40. The strippers 47 are borne by a shaft 44 journaled in the framework and having an arm 43, whereby it may be moved. The end of said arm is adapted to be set into either of two holes 45 4G in the framework of the machine. hen the end of arm 43 is placed in hole 46, the strippers are set with their points in grooves 42 extending circumferentially of the cylinder 40, and they take the sheets from the said cylinder, (whose grippers open as they reach the roller 57 011 which the tapes 56 run,) delivering them to the said tapes 56; but when the arm 43 is placed, as shown in the drawings, with its end in hole 45 the points of the strippers 47 are removed from the grooves 42 to the position shown, where the guides 47 direct the sheets between the cylinder 40 and the roller 54, whence they are guided to the tapes 53 50 by the guides 39.

The tapes 53 run about the roller 54 and are guided by the roller 55. The tapes 50 run about roller 51 and are guided by the roller 52. The tapes 56 run on rollers 57 57 57 and tapes 61 run on a roller on shaft 44. iVith the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the operation is as follows: The

web has been severed by the knife 23, and the end thereof, following the groove 31, is being taken by the grippers 41 of the cylinder 40. the roller 57, or they may not open until they approach the roller 54 if the devices are being used to collect sheets. If they open as they pass the roller 57, as in practice they would, the sheet will be directed by the guides 47 to and between the cylinder 40 and the roller 54, thence beween the latter and the guides 39 (these last extending into the grooves 42 of the cylinder 40) to the tapes 50 53. Previous to this the knife 28 has severed the said sheet from the web, cam 33 has moved the strippers 37 down close to the cylinder, the throwoffs 30 have directed the end of the web on top the said strippers 37, and as the end of the sheet from below emerges from under the end of the guides 39 it is joined by the end of the web, the two being in register. The knife 28 severs the (top) sheet from the web, strippers 37 rise, and the end of the web is carried down to the position shown, where the described cycle of movements begins again.

If it is desired to deliver the sheets singly, it may be done by setting the end of arm 43 in hole 46, as in Fig. 3, bringing the ends of strippers 47 into the grooves 42 of cylinder 40. As a matter of convenience, the strippers 47 and the guides 47 a are made integral and are connected at their operative ends, thus forming the V-shaped strippers and guides shown. WVith the strippers 47 in the grooves 42, the sheets that are taken down to the grippers 41 are run out on the tapes 50, while those sheets that are taken off by the strippers 37 are run out on the tapes 53.

The roller 25 is preferably on the driveshaft of the machine. I prefer to have an oiled tympan-sheet on this roller 25 to prevent any set-off thereon from the passing web, as this might be set-01f on the web again, causing blurring. Another function of roller 25 is that it keeps the web from the plate-cylinder 19.

The drive-shaftD is geared to the cylinder 18 directly by gears 100 101 on shaft D and the shaft of cylinder 18, respectively. The cylinder 13 and the cylinders above it are geared together in an obvious manner, the pitch circles of the gears being the same in diameter as the cylinders on which they are placed. The gearing connecting the cylinder 20 with the drive-shaft D may be made disconnectible in any suitable Way, as by a clutch mechanism composed of gear 102, (loose on the shaft 103 of cylinder 20,) one member 104 of a clutch rigid with gear 102, and member 105 of said clutch splined on said shaft 103 in a well-known manner to slide thereon, or other device, for the purpose of leaving the impression-cylinder 20 and its coacting type-cylinders idle when desired.

It will be readily seen that by means of the above-described machine I may print in one or two colors on one side (inside) of the web These grippers may open as they pass and in any number of colors up to six on Q the other side. It is obvious that by increasing the number of printing couples more colors may be printed on the web; also, by increasing the number of forms about the cylinder 20, and the size of that, cylinder, more than six colors may be printed on the outside. The last result may also be reached by increasing the number of impression-cylinders and type-cylinders that print on but one side.

It will be noted that the impression-cylinders of the printing couples are placed one over the other in a vertical plane, and that the type-cylinders are alternately placed on opposite sides of this vertical row. This arrangement permits of the removal of typeplates, &c., with ease, and of ready access to the various parts of the machines without the removal of heavy parts. The web is led between succeeding impression-cylinders, and the impressions are taken alternately on the opposite sides thereof in these printing couples. In so far as certain features of my invention are concerned this arrangement, one above another, need not be adhered to.

I have used the words type-plate, typecylinder, or form-cylinder in a generic sense, meaning thereby any known form of printing-surface that may be used in such cases.

It is obvious that the cylinder 26 may be larger and have more than one cutting-blade.

That I claim is 1. In a multicolor-printing machine, the combination of three ormore contiguous impression-cylinders arranged in a row, with a plate-cylinder for each impression-cylinder, said plate-cylinders being arranged alternately on opposite sides of said row, whereby easy working spaces for placing plates, overlays, &c., are secured and whereby a web led between the members of each printing couple and between succeeding impression-cylinders will be supported in continuous contact with cylinders, and may receive impressions on opposite sides, substantially as described.

2. The combination of three or more contiguous impression-cylinders arranged one above another in a row, with a plate-cylinder and its inking apparatus for each impressioncylinder, said plate-cylinders and apparatus being arranged alternately on opposite sides of said row, whereby easy working spaces for placing plates, overlays, &c., are secured, and whereby a web may receive impressions as described and be supported in continuous contact with cylinders, substantially as described.

3. The combination of two or more contiguous impression-cylinders arranged one above another in a row, an equal number of platecylinders arranged for coaction with said impression-cylinders and placed alternately on opposite sides of the row, each plate-cylinder being placed horizontally against its impression-cylinder, an additional impression-cylinder placed below said row, and a plurality of plate-cylinders arranged about said additional impression-cylinder wherebya web can be printed on one side in one or more colors, printed on the other side, and additional colors be printed on the first-named side, substantially as described.

4. The combination of two or more contiguous impression-cylinders arranged one above another in a row, a plate-cylinder for each impression-cylinder, said plate-cylinders being placed alternately on opposite sides of the row, an auxiliary impression-cylinder arranged at a distance from the lowest impressioncylinder, a plurality of plate-cylinders for coaction with said auxiliary cylinder, and

.a guide-cylinder contiguous to said lowest and auxiliary cylinders, whereby a Web may be supported in contact with cylinders and may receive impressions, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a number of contiguous impression-cylinders, a plate-cylinder for each impression-cylinder, all arranged as described to print on a web, means for introducing the web at any one of several points, and cutting mechanism for severing sheets from the web, whereby a web may be printed in as many colors as desired, and is supported in continuous contact with cylinders through the printing mechanism, substantially as described.

6. The combination of cutting-cylinders, means taking alternate sheets from one of said cylinders at one point, mechanism taking the other alternate sheets from said cylinder at an other point, and delivery apparatus having an adjustable part, whereby sheets may be delivered at two points or associated sheets may be delivered at one point, substantially as described.

7. The combination of cutting-cylinders, a cylinder with grippers taking alternate sheets from one of said cutting-cylinders at one point, automatic mechanism taking the other alternate sheets from the said cylinder at another point, and delivering apparatus having an adjustable part, whereby single sheets may be delivered at two places or associated sheets may be delivered at one of said places, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the cutting-cylinders, a take-01f cylinder having grippers taking alternate sheets from one of said cuttingcylinders at one place, automatic mechanism taking the other alternate sheets from the said cylinder at another place, an adjustable stripper and guide for coaction with said take-off cylinder, and delivery devices, whereby single sheets may be delivered at two places, or associated sheets may be delivered at one of said places, substantially as described.

9. The combination of two cutting-cylinders for severing a web, one of which is fittted with throw-01f fingers at one point, and sheetretainers at an opposite point, a take-oft cylinder coacting with said cutting-cylinder and taking each alternate sheet from the retainers, stripper-guides which receive the other alternate sheets from the throW-oflt' fingers, and guide means to bring such two sheets together in register, substantially as described.

10. The combination of cutting-cylinders, as 26, 27, one of which as 27, is fitted with retainingpins and throw-cits as described, a movable stripper-guide as 37, a gripper-cylinder as 40, a roller as 54:, and guides as 39, as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination of cutting-cylinders, as 26, 27, one of which as 27, is fitted with sheet-retainers, and ihrow-offs at opposite YVALTER SCOTT.

Vitnesses:

PAUL WILcoX, F. GooDwIN. 

